Building the Perfect XP Image

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Guest

Hello all,
I would like to know if there is a list of common modifications that you
would make to Windows XP after the initial install. Every time I create an XP
Image for a client I refer back to the documentation that I've generated but
I always end up learning something new (which is unavoidable :)...
*Example: after the release of Win XP Service Pack 2 I found a firewall
problem that plagued me for about 15 minutes, I kept getting "Access denied"
when connecting from a fresh server install, then I found this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=840634

Is there a list of common/universal modifications that would (generally)
apply to us all? Possibly in a best practice or step-by-step form?

I don't want to get lazy in the learning process but more efficient in the
Imaging process. I have to think someone out there has run into a great deal
of the common problems before I did, and hopefully wrote them down to share
them.

Please let me know if there is such a resource.

Cheers!
 
Yes, although the way we run computers probably wouldn't suit you as we don't
use remote management. We do turn off a whole raft of unneeded services, and
that does make the machine a lot snappier to use, plus it removes a fair
number of known security-issues more effectively than just patching. Takes a
bit of experience to know which services can be disabled (or set manual) in
any given circumstance, though, particularly as the names aren't always
indicative of the real function.

In general we use the supplied firewall (as it's free) and don't have any
real issues with it, it does the job fine other than that it provides no way
of stopping outbound connections. For a better firewall I'd suggest Kerio.
 
Thanks for the quick reply but the Windows Firewall was just an example. I am
really looking for a comprehensive checklist for the OS as a whole. A list
for turning off certain services (and why to turn them off) is another good
example.

If there is no such known list I will continue with my own research and
documentation. But if there is...by all means, I'm interested!
 
JesusPresley said:
I would like to know if there is a list of common modifications
that you would make to Windows XP after the initial install. Every
time I create an XP Image for a client I refer back to the
documentation that I've generated but I always end up learning
something new (which is unavoidable :)... *Example: after the
release of Win XP Service Pack 2 I found a firewall problem that
plagued me for about 15 minutes, I kept getting "Access denied"
when connecting from a fresh server install, then I found this
article: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=840634

Is there a list of common/universal modifications that would
(generally) apply to us all? Possibly in a best practice or
step-by-step form?

I don't want to get lazy in the learning process but more efficient
in the Imaging process. I have to think someone out there has run
into a great deal of the common problems before I did, and
hopefully wrote them down to share them.

Please let me know if there is such a resource.
Click to expand...

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )

The pure number of variations on such a thing (the *perfect* XP install - to
you) is mind-boggling.

Check out some of these pages, look through their forums, etc..

By CD/DVD...
http://unattended.msfn.org/

By network...
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

Your other choice might be to create a universal image - but I think you
would get more flexibility with an unattended installation.

http://www.leinss.com/uniimg.html
(See the WinXP Blog addition - imaging with universal image)

http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/www/wbeck/W2KXP.htm#Master
(More on building and ghosting a master image)

Registry tweaks:
http://www.winguides.com/

Those are a FEW examples - from many.
 
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